Apparatus for concentrating minerals by flotation.



I G. c. STONE. APPARATUS FOR coNcENTRATmG VM|A|ERALS BY 'FLoTATloAL APPLICATION FILED NOV. I6, 191.4.

' AToHNEl/s NT C GEORGE C. STONE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE NEW JERSEY ZINC COMPANY,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION NEW lJERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR CONCENTRATING MINERALS BY FLOTATION.

Patented oet. 5, 1915.

v Application filed November 16, 1914. Serial N o. 872,353.

y To `1r/AZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE C. STONE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, andState of New York, have inventedv certain new .and useful Improvef ments in Apparatus for Concentrati'ng Minerals by Flo'tation; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact Adescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

vThis invention relates to apparatus for use in the separation of fiotable minerals from material with which they are associated: The material to be separated, as for instance, zinclblende, associated with calcite or the like, is'first ground or crushed to say kfrom 14 to 16 mesh and is then` mixed with the customary flotation emulsion of sulfuric acid, oil and water, pr10r to flotation. The

effect of the sulfuric acid is apparently to clean the o'Xid from the surface of the sulfid particles, and the oil thereuponl envelops the cleaned particles, thus rendering them more susceptible to flotation. Calcite, silica, and the like, will not receivean oil film and are not subject to flotation thereby.

The present invention involves the introduction of the ore into the flotation liquid intermittently, preferably ,in Vrelatively small individual charges, and the provision of apparatus whereby this may be effected with a negligible amount of agitation of the liquid. To this end a carrier is provided` for introducing the ore into the flotation liquid from a source exterior to the receptacle for that liquid, and this carrier is made to enter the flotation liquid by movement in substantially the plane in which it lies. Preferably,

the carrier isA made up of a series of indi-A vidual units movable in unison and which move into and out of the flotation liquid at an acute angle to the surface of the flotation liquid.

I p refer to employ a carrier provided with ya series of trough-like pans open at their .forward ends, and to move this carrier into and out ofthe flotation liquid by a reciprocatory movement. When such a carrier is employed in conjunction with mechanism for'reciprocating it at an incline so as to project the trough-like pans into the flotation liquid and then to withdraw them V therefrom, the checking of the downward movement of the carrier will result in a liquid. lVhen the carrier moves upwardly out of the flotation liquid it may be brought into coaction with a suitable source of supply of ore, and if desired, such source of supply may be provided with a gate controlling the outlet therefrom, which gate is automatically actuated by the movement of the carrier -so that the carrier will at once receive a new charge of ore preparatory to a repetition of the downward movement into the flotation liquid.

I have illustrated the preferred embodi-A ment of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an'elevation of the apparatus employed, the receptacle for theflotation liquid being shown in section and the operating mechanism for reciprocating the carrier being shown diagrammatically; Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing -thecarrier in a different position; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to these drawings, a receptacle 4 is provided for the flotation liquid, this receptacle being of any suitable form.

Extending along one side of the receptacle 4 is the launder 5 into which the overflow from the receptacle 4, with the mineral particles floated thereon, may be discharged over the barrier '6. The supply of the flotation liquid to the receptacle 4 is constantly maintained through the supply pipe 7,*and the overflow entering the launder 5 is drawn off' through the conduit 8. Both the receptacle 4 and the Ylaunder 5 are preferably providedA with drain openings through which they 'may be emptied and suitable water-tight gates 9.

Above the receptacle 4 are rails 10, pref- -l erably shaped as shown, with the lower portion thereof inclined tothe horizontal and with short horizontal extensions at the upper ends of these inclined portions. Theserails 10 receive a traveling truck A11 provided.

with wheels 12 running on the rails 10. v

Bars 13, and hanger 'rods' 14 supporting the yoke 24, depend from the truck 11 and form a suspending means for a plurality of carriers 15 for the oreto be separated. These y carriers are preferably in the form of'long relatively narrow troughs open at their forward ends, and mounted attheir rear ends upon the through rod 25 so as to have a 'capacity for being rocked thereon to the particular inclination desired.

A substantial number of the troughs 15 is employed, arranged parallel to each other and spaced at convenient distances apart. The hanger rods 14 are screw-threaded at their upper ends and are provided with cooperating nuts, so as to set thetroughs at the desired angle.

Any suitable means may be provided for reciprocating the wheeled truck'or sup ort 11 and the carriers l5 depending therefr m. In the present instance, I -have shown a power shaft 16 having a crank arm 17 thereon whose connecting rod 18 engages the front axle of the Wheeled support 11, so that rotation of the power shaft 16 ,causes reciprocation of .the support 11 and troughs 15 from the position 1n Which they are shown in Fig. 1 to theposition in Which they are shown in Fig. 2 and vice versa.

Vhen the carriers 15 move to the position in which they are shown in Fig. 1, they may be arranged to coact with a source of supply of appropriately crushed ore so that each of the several carriers will receive a charge of ore. In the present instance, the source of supply of ore is shown as pro vided witha plurality of narrow chutes 19, one for each .of the troughs 15, down which the ore will pass from a bin. A gate 20 is provided for closing the lower ends of these chutes 19. This gate may be arranged for.

^ automatic actuation by the Wheeled support 11, or a part mounted thereon, so that as the carriers 15 reach the Fig. 1 position, thev gate 20 will be automatically raised to permit the flow of a suitable quantity of ore from each of the chutes 19 into the corresponding carrier 15. Forthis purpose the gate 2O is shown as pivotally mounted and provided with a crank arm 21 on which is an adjustable stop 22 adapted to be engaged by an abutment 23 upon one of the angle bars 13. Thus, on movement of the carriers 15 to the upper positiop, as shown in Fig. 1,

the gate 210 will be ra sed and the carriers will receive charges of ore to be treated.

It will be noted that the construction herein shown and described is such that the several carriers 15" in moving from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2 Will enter the flotation liquid in the receptacle 4 by movement of the carriers in substantially the plane in Which'they lie.`

Movement of the carriers in this way is effected by the bepd given to the rails 10, and it results in immersing the carriers and the charges of ore contained in them in theflotation liquidwith a minimum of agitation of the dotation liquid, and at an acute angle to the surface of the liquid. In the present inarsenal stance, wherethe movement of the carriers is a reciprocatory one, the cessation of the dovvnvvard movement of the carriers in conjunction with the angle of inclination there-y of, is sui'iicient to effect the discharge of the ore from the open lower ends of the carriers. The carriers are then withdrawn from the liquid on their reverse upward movement, and the ore which has been discharged into the liquid in a plurality of small streams which are spaced apart, is acted upon by the liquid in accordance with the principles of mineral separation by flotation. The values contained in the ore rise to the surfaceof the liquid and are iioated over the barrier 6 into the launder 5, from which they are withdrawn by the conduit 8. When the carriers in their upward movement reach the position shown by Fig. 1,A the gate`20 is raised by the coacting parts 23 and '22 so that each of the several carriers 15 receives a new supply of ore from the .corresponding chute 19.

1. Apparatus for the separation of' floatable minerals from materials with which they are associated, comprising a receptacle for the flotation liquid, a carrier for the charge to be separated, and power-actuated devices for reciprocating the carrier over a prescribed path from a point exterior to the receptacle into the latter so as to immerse the charge in the liquid therein; substantially as described.

2. Apparatus for the separation of float- 100 prescribedpath from a point exterior to the receptacle into the latter so as toimmerse the charge in the liquid therein, and means for supplying a charge of the material to the carrier when the latter is outside the receptacle; substantially as described.

3. Apparatus -for the separation of floatable minerals from materials with which they are associated, comprising a receptacle for the flotation liquid, a carrier for the charge to be separated, power-actuated devices for reciprocatingI the carrier over a prescribed path `from a point exterior tothe receptacle into the'latter so as to immerse the charge in the liquid therein, and means for supplying a charge of the material to the carrier when the latter is outside the receptacle, the carrier being so constructed as to discharge the material therein. into the liquid in the receptacle at the 1lermination o f iat for the flotation liquid, a carrier Afor the charge to be separated, power-actuated devices for reciprocating the carrier over a prescribed path from, a v.point exterior to the receptacle into the latter so as to immerse able .minerals from materials with which they are vassociated,'comprising a receptacle for' the flotation liquid, a carrier for the charge to be separated, andmeans for'moving the carrier Wholly into'andretractingv it Wholly -able minerals' from materials 4with which theyare associated, comprising a receptacle from Vthe flotation liquid L inA a substantially rectilinear path andnina' direction inclined to the horizontal; substantially as described.

6. Apparatus for theseparation of float able minerals Jfrom materials `'with W-hich they are associated, comprising areceptacle lforthe flotation liquid, a source of supply of. 1 the charge to bev separated, a trough-like car- I rier out ofthe liquid, and means for inter,-

mittently moving the carrier into coaction.

With said source of supply and then'wholly into the liquidv in the receptacle I in a direction inclined to the horizontal; substantially as described.

7. Apparatus for the separation'of float' I able minerals from material's with which they are associated, comprising' a -receptacle f `for the flotation liquid, a source of supply of,

the charge to'be separated outside of and y-spacednfrom the receptacle, a' trough-like lcarrier, 'andmeans for-intermittently mov- @Cling the carrier into coaction with. saidsource offsuppl'y .and then in -a substantially recti-l linear pathfinto the-liquid in the receptacle;

substantially as described. i ,8. Apparatusgfor the separation of loat- 4.5. able "minerals from. materialsvgwith which' they are associated, comprising a receptacle forthe flotation liquid, a source ,of sippl of the-'charge to be separated outside o yspaced fromthe receptacle, a carrier for'the charge and means for reciprocating the car'-V rier in a pathlinclined to `the surface of the liquid in the receptacle to carry it-.alterl' nately into co-action With said source of supply vand into'the liquid; vsubstantially as described.

9.v Apparatus .for the separation'of floatable.; minerals vfrom materials 'with `Which vthey are associated, comprising a receptacle for the flotation liquid, a source of supply of the charge to be separated outside of and spaced from the receptacle, a carrier, means ,loatable mineralsfrom materials "with which-jj f A ithey .are `assoc1ated, a-wh eeled. carrier having the liquidin. the receptacle,iand means actu-v l 5 atedby 'the movementoffthej carrier' for vand means for causing automatic deliveryof the charge from thesourcefof Asupply into, the .carrier t`rougl 1s; Substantially als' de tfloatable `minera-ls from materials with which` for -feedi-ngthe;t substantially'as described.

'l5 carrier, meansv for reciprocating the .carrier f in a path Ainclined to the horizontal to im merse the carrier in s the liquid in said receptacle and to move it into coaction with said source of supply, and means actuated by the movement of the carrier for actuating saidgate; substantially as described.

1l. A pparatus for the separation of floatfor the flotation liquid, a," source of supply of the charge to be separated. outside of and spaced fromthe receptacle, a plurality of carrier troughs arranged parallel lto eachA other and spaced apart, means for supplying ore tothe several carrier troughs from said source and means for moving' the carrier.-

-troughs en'dwise into the liquid; substantially as described.

12. Apparatus for the separation of floatable minerals from materials With which theyare associated, comprising a receptacle l for theflotation liquid,v a source of supply ofthe charge', to be separated, .said source having'a plurality of outlets, a corresponding number' of carrier troughs arranged par-v allel to each other and spaced apart,.a supvport for the carrier troughs, a track on which the. support is adapted to reciprocate, said track being shaped'to cause movement of the carrier; troughs endwise into theliquid in the .receptacle and .theninto' co-actiongv with said sourceofsupply, means for recipfA rocating thecarrier troughslupon :said track, Y

scribed. 13. In apparatus -lor'the separation of they are associated, a Wheeled carrier hav- V'ing suspendedtherefrom a series of troughs' open vat-oneend and spaced apart from each other,f-in combinationv with asubjacent receptaclef for flotation liquid, a trackway 'upcn Whichgtlg carrier is movalole'an'dbyL which the carrier is caused to move into and out of thegliquidin the receptacle, and means- V aterials int o the carrier;

14;' -In'f apparatus for. the separation v suspended vtherefrom al 'ser-ies o`f troughs open at vone end scribed.

other in combination with a subjacent reeepn testimony whereof I ax my signature, taele for flotation liquid, and a traokway inin presence of two Witnesses.- olined with respect to the horizontal and GEORGE C STONE means for moving the carrier upon the traokway to carry it into and out of the Witnesses:

liquid in the receptacle; substantially as de- A. F. SPECHT,

` A A. B. Coomss.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patets, Washington, D. C. 

